Puppy Clothes

I was a little angry when I walked into Target the other day and saw the Halloween aisle. I’m in denial that summer is ending.
Halloween is fun and all but being from Michigan, my puppy and I have 6 months of snow and ice to weather through. But, one nice thing about Halloween being here is the costumes!
It is time for dogs to be anything they want! Your dog can be a lizard, pig, cowboy or hot dog! Puppies love Halloween attention and now is the time to find the perfect costume for your poochie.
Got a Bulldog?
Maybe he should be a ballerina!
Got a weiner dog?
Maybe he should become a hot dog!
The idea’s never cease.
What are some of your favorite dog costumes?
I once saw a Weimarener dressed up as Billy the Kidd, complete with gun holster. It was hilarious and the dog loved all his fans.

If you are planning to dress your puppy up for the Halloween shenanigans please be safe and keep these things in mind!

1. Make sure you puppy likes his costume! Once you get your howl-goblin all costumed give him a few moments to adjust. If he cries, whimpers and looks terribly uncomfortable maybe it’s best to remove the costume. It’s only fun if you are both having fun. If your dog is miserable then he is going to hate Halloween. Keep in mind that costumes, just like your regular puppy clothing, should not block your dogs eyes (like bandanna’s, crowns, or eye patches for that puppy pirate). When a dog can’t see they will become more aggressive and we don’t want to make him feel vulnerable and unsafe, that is not nice.

2. Halloween means many people will be out on the street. Keep your puppy close to you if you decide to go outdoors to show of his snazzy cute costume. He should be leashed, collared and tagged with all his information! Dogs have been known to be abducted on Halloween so please keep him nearby so he is not teased or stolen by any non-friendly Halloweenies. Also, if you stay inside and answer the door to pass out candy to your trick-or-treaters be sure your dog is blocked away from the door. People wearing costumes could scare your puppy.

3. Don’t let your dog eat any candy! Candy is not for pets. It messes with their digestion and is toxic to their bodies! Wrappers are also unsafe and can obstruct your doggies intestines. Plus, there will be a huge mess to clean up. Please make sure the candy bowl is high out of reach from sniffy, curious puppy noses!

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Being overweight isn’t just for humans. Just like us dogs are tempted with all sorts of treats that just aren’t good for them. And they don’t get enough exercise. I read somewhere that dog owners live longer. It as attributed to going out for walks with your pet and by having a happy companion always ready to greet you when you get home from a long day at work. Having pets usually makes people happier–it gives people a sense of responsibility and therefore increases their fulfillment in life.

Speaking of fulfillment…is your pet overweight? I have talked a lot about puppy fashion on this blog but what if your dog is too overweight to be sporting those sexy Amazon hoodies? Then, I’m afraid it is time for that dreadful 4-letter word. Not cake. Diet. It’s probably time you put your puppy dog on a diet.

Just like us a dogs arteries clog with cholesterol and they need to eat healthy and exercise regularly in order to stay robust and ruling the bark park. If your dog is supposed to be fitting into those size M’s and he’s just not making it it might be time to do a few extra laps around the house. You can tell if your dog is overweight by feeling for his ribs. When a dog is standing up his ribs should be easily felt through his skin, if not, he is most likely overweight. Keep in mind, this does not mean you have to see his ribs, you just have to be able to feel them. If your dog is overweight, take him for some walks–don’t start off with a 5K. This will be hard on your dog and he’ll feel punished for something he doesn’t understand.

I had a Rotweiler once who refused to go for walks. He’d walk about as far as he wanted and then he’d sit down on the gravel road and refuse to move. Since this dog was over 100lbs I couldn’t really do anything to physically move him but I did everything from yelling and screaming to putting my foot under his butt to budge him to cooing soothingly and then walking away to leave him alone. He really hated being alone and he ignored me for a while and let me walk away. (Aren’t rotty’s stubborn??) but then he really thought I was leaving and he gallopped over. AHA! A win for me! In order to get my Rotweiler out I had to cajole him and leave him at the end of every drive-way in order for him to follow me and by Christmas he wasn’t nearly as fat. Rocky (my Rottweiler) also had a recommended serving of dry dog food every day and NO table scraps. I always gave him scraps after dinner to reward him for … well for being a dog since he never really did anything special. So if your dog needs to drop a few pounds don’t be passing him pork chop fat under the table.

This is also a great opportunity for you to diet too if you would like to make a healthier you. Take your dog and yourself for those extra long walks through the neighborhood, eat salads instead of hamburgers and encourage each other. Before you know it your sweet lil pup will be back in Speedo condition…or at least a nice rain coat. =)

If the clothes never fit again, move on to dog jewelry.

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You found the cutest outfit for your puppy to wear!  You can’t wait to order it and dress your puppy into their latest and greatest duds.  But, what size should you get?

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and luckily so do puppy clothes.  You’ll need to bring your puppy and a tape measure into a space where you can do some measuring.

Make sure to bring a little snack so you can reward your puppy for being so good while he gets all measured up for his new wardrobe.

This is what you want to do:

Get a soft, flexible tape measure and have your puppy stand still in front of you (easier said than done).

Measure your puppy’s neck circumference.  Do this just the way you would as if you were putting a necklace on him.

Next, measure your puppy’s chest.  Meausure right behind his front legs, not too far back, you don’t need his waist measurements.  =)

The last measurement you need is the length of your puppy.  Do this by measuring from the base of your puppy’s tail all the way up his back to his neck.

There you have it, now your puppy is ready to be accessorized.

Keep in mind that puppies grow fast; so if you are buying something that you LOVE and want him them to wear it forever, then you may need to buy a bigger size initially so it’ll fit later.  Or buy 1 in each size.  Also, just as a general sizing rule, if your puppy’s measurements fall in between numbers then it’d probably be better to buy the larger size.  Unless it’s an article of clothing that you want to fit snugly.  Don’t forget this stuff has to go through the washer and dryer, too!  Most places, like Amazon, will take returns for sizes if the garment is unwashed and unworn.  So if you get your puppy clothing and it’s just not quite right, return it for a more comfortable fit so your puppy learns to love his style.

One last rule to go by–usually dogs that are toy breeds like Chihuahua’s or Yorkies are size small, Beagles, Pugs and Cocker Spaniels are a medium size, get a large for your Collie’s, Lab’s and Bulldogs and Great Dane’s and Bullmastiff’s take an X-large.

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You just brought home your furry little bundle of joy, he’s warm and snuggling up to you lovingly.

Puppies are born in litters and they have furry brothers and sisters to cuddle with for warmth and comfort.  Now that your puppy is growing up wouldn’t it be nice to have a way to keep him warm and happy?

Puppy clothes can provide many benefits for your new family member.  Clothing gives security and a sense of belonging, plus he will develop a great sense of fashion!  His friends will paw all over him.

Another great benefit of dressing your puppy in puppy clothes is it prevents him from scratching or biting at that pet dander that seems to drive them crazy.  He’ll be so wrapped up in his comfy clothes that he will not feel these minor skin irritations.

You wear clothes right?  Do you sometimes leave your clothes lying on the floor in your bedroom or in the laundry room where your puppy has access to them with his sharp little canine teeth?  Maybe now is a good time to acquaint your puppy with his very own clothing, that way he is familiar with them and does not feel the need to attack yours!

All your friends and family are excited to meet this new addition to your life.  We wear our best outfits to make good impressions and your puppy deserves the same opportunity.  Give him a great sense of confidence.  He’ll love his fashionable apparel and all the attention he receives from his adoring public whether he has on an argyle sweater and wellies or a casual hoodie for rainy sundays.

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